Lamar's youngest Cardinals get their red on for the team

Amid chants of “Beat those Demons!” and cheers of “Go Big Red,” children at Lamar University’s Early Childhood Development Center got their red on Thursday to cheer on the Cardinals. Almost 100 youngsters, ranging in age from 18 months to 5 years, donned Cardinal colors – and Cardinal spirit – for the “Little Red Rally.”

They cheered, perfected their “LU” hand sign and experienced all the excitement leading to Lamar’s second home game Saturday against the Demons of Northwestern State. Members of Lamar’s Cheerleading team paid them a visit, much to the delight of the children, decked out in Cardinal T-shirts – and many waving pompons and other signs of LU spirit.

Children of Lamar students, faculty and staff and from the Southeast Texas community attend the Early Childhood Development Center, which is a program of Lamar’s College of Education and Human Development. The Cardinals return to Provost Umphrey Stadium at 6 p.m. Saturday to host the Demons after a road game and an open weekend.